How does it work? Before we understand all that, we need to know a little bit about atoms and their structure.
All matter is made up of atoms, and atoms are made up of smaller particles. The three main particles making up an atom are the proton, the neutron and the electron.

Electrons spin around the center, or nucleus, of atoms, in the same way the moon spins around the earth. The nucleus is made up of neutrons and protons.

Electrons contain a negative charge, protons a positive charge. Neutrons are neutral -- they have neither a positive nor a negative charge.

Each atom has a specific number of electrons, protons and neutrons. But no matter how many particles an atom has, the number of electrons usually needs to be the same as the number of protons. If the numbers are the same, the atom is called balanced, and it is very stable.

Some kinds of atoms have loosely attached electrons. An atom that loses electrons has more protons than electrons and is positively charged. An atom that gains electrons has more negative particles and is negatively charge. A "charged" atom is called an "ion."

Electrons can be made to move from one atom to another. When those electrons move between the atoms, a current of electricity is created. The electrons move from one atom to another in a "flow." One electron is attached and another electron is lost. The charge is passed from atom to atom when electricity is "passed."

Since all atoms want to be balanced, the atom that has been "unbalanced" will look for a free electron to fill the place of the missing one. We say that this unbalanced atom has a "positive charge" (+) because it has too many protons.

Since it got kicked off, the free electron moves around waiting for an unbalanced atom to give it a home. The free electron charge is negative, and has no proton to balance it out, so we say that it has a "negative charge" (-).

So what do positive and negative charges have to do with electricity?

Scientists and engineers have found several ways to create large numbers of positive atoms and free negative electrons. Since positive atoms want negative electrons so they can be balanced, they have a strong attraction for the electrons. The electrons also want to be part of a balanced atom, so they have a strong attraction to the positive atoms. So, the positive attracts the negative to balance out.

The more positive atoms or negative electrons you have, the stronger the attraction for the other. Since we have both positive and negative charged groups attracted to each other, we call the total attraction "charge."

When electrons move among the atoms of matter, a current of electricity is created. This is what happens in a piece of wire. The electrons are passed from atom to atom, creating an electrical current from one end to other, just like in the picture.

Electricity is conducted through some things better than others do. Its resistance measures how well something conducts electricity. Some things hold their electrons very tightly. Electrons do not move through them very well. These things are called insulators. Rubber, plastic, cloth, glass and dry air are good insulators and have very high resistance.

Other materials have some loosely held electrons, which move through them very easily. These are called conductors. Most metals -- like copper, aluminum or steel -- are good conductors.

Your Assignment #1 (4 marks)

What are the 3 particles that make up an atom? ______________________________________________________

What is a nucleus made up of? ______________________________________________________

What would cause an atom to become “positively” charged? ______________________________________________________

What is the difference between insulators and conductors? ______________________________________________________

BACK TO THE BASICS

FatalCurrent

Strange as it may seem, most fatal electric shocks happen to people who should know better. Here are some electro-medical facts that should make you think twice before taking that last chance.
It's the current that Kills

Offhand it would seem that a shock of 10,000 volts would be more deadly than 100 volts. But this is not so! Individuals have been electrocuted by appliances using ordinary house currents of 110 volts and by electrical apparatus in industry using as little as 42 volts direct current! The real measure of shock's intensity lies in the amount of current (amperes) forced through the body and not the voltage. Any electrical device used on a house wiring circuit can, under certain conditions, transmit a fatal current.

While any amount of current over 10 milliamps (0.01 amp) is capable of producing painful to severe shock, currents between 100 and 200 mA (0.1 to 0.2 amp) are lethal. Currents above 200 milliamps (0.2 amp), while producing severe burns and unconsciousness, do not usually cause death if the victim is given immediate attention. Resuscitation, consisting of artificial respiration, will usually revive the victim.

From a practical viewpoint, after a person is knocked out by an electrical shock it is impossible to tell how much current passed through the vital organs of his body. Artificial respiration must be applied immediately if breathing has stopped.

The Physiological Effects of Electric Shock:

Note that voltage is not a consideration. Although it takes a voltage to make the current flow, the amount of shock-current will vary, depending on the body resistance between the points of contact.

Shock is more severe as the current rises. At values as low as 20 milliamps, breathing becomes laboured, finally ceasing completely even at values below 75 milliamps. As the current approaches 100 milliamps, ventricular fibrillation of the heart occurs - an uncoordinated twitching of the walls of the heart's ventricles.

Above 200 milliamps, the muscular contractions are so severe that the heart is forcibly clamped during the shock. This clamping protects the heart from going into ventricular fibrillation, and the victim's chances for survival are good.

Danger - Low Voltage!

It is common knowledge that victims of high-voltage shock usually respond to artificial respiration more readily than the victims of low-voltage shock. The reason may be the merciful clamping of the heart, owing to the high current densities associated with high voltages. However, lest these details be misinterpreted, the only reasonable conclusion that can be drawn is that 75 volts are just as lethal as 750 volts.

The actual resistance of the body varies depending upon the points of contact and the skin condition (moist or dry). Between the ears, for example, the internal resistance (less than skin resistance) is only 100 ohms, while from hand to foot it is closer to 500 ohms. The skin resistance may vary from 1000 ohms for wet skin to over 500,000 ohms for dry skin.

When working around electrical equipment, move slowly! Make sure your feet are firmly placed for good balance. Don't lunge after falling tools. Kill all power, and ground all high-voltage points before touching wiring. Make sure that power cannot accidentally be restored. Do not work on underground equipment. Above all, do not touch electrical equipment while standing on metal floors, damp concrete or other well grounded surfaces. Do not handle electrical equipment while wearing damp clothing (particularly wet shoes) or while skin surfaces are damp.

Do not work alone! Remember the more you know about electrical equipment, the more heedless you're apt to become. Don't take unnecessary risks.

What to do for Victims

Cut voltage and/or remove the victim from the contact as quickly as possible - but without endangering your own safety. Use a length of dry wood, rope, blanket, etc., to pry or pull the victim loose. Don't waste valuable time looking for the power switch. The resistance of the victim's contact decreases with time. The fatal 100 or 200 milliamp ere level may be reached if action is delayed.

If the victim is unconscious and has stopped breathing, start artificial respiration at once. Do not stop resuscitation until medical authority pronounces the victim beyond help. It may take as long as eight hours to revive the patient. There may be no pulse and a condition similar to rigor mortis may be present; however these are the manifestations of shock and are not an indication the victim has succumbed

Definitions for this lesson:

Current

Is the flow of electrons through a circuit. Current is measured in Amperes, named after Andre Ampere.

Is the opposition to the flow of electrons through a circuit. Resistance is measured in Ohms, named after Georg Simon Ohm.

Fatl Current Assignments (7 marks)

Write a paragraph about how the information in the "Fatal Current" article applies to the work we will do in this course. (5 Marks) __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________

Describe how a victim of electric shock should be treated. (2 Mark) __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________